Michael could only stare. Why did she seem to know him?
Leah led them in and out of side streets, the roads narrow and the air thick with dust. Some doorways were empty, others filled with people, their eyes roaming without any recognition. Michael noticed with a sinking feeling that Leah was leading them farther and farther from the tunnel, and the knowledge filled him with despair. He felt nearly paralyzed as she kept up a furious pace for what felt like an eternity.
Leah dropped Elizabeth’s hand to straighten her veil and said, “We’re almost there,” smiling to reassure them. Her tone was more relaxed now that they had covered some distance. Leah reached again for Elizabeth’s hand and gave it a little shake.
Elizabeth glanced down but remained silent.
Leah squeezed her hand more tightly. “You’re scared. That’s understandable. You’ve been through a lot today. We can rest, and I will get you something to eat and drink.”
They turned off the road and through a front gate into a courtyard. A fig tree stood at its center, and beyond that Michael could see a simple, two-story stone house. The bottom floor was open to the courtyard and had three small rooms that reminded Michael of stalls in a barn. A lamb stood in the first one behind a metal gate. The middle stall contained many baskets along its perimeter and a smoldering pit in the center of the floor. On the far end of the last stall, a door opened to the back of the house, where a wooden ladder led to the second floor.
Leah invited them upstairs. When he climbed the ladder, Michael found himself in a large room with a window looking down onto the courtyard below. A woolen mat lay on the floor with two large, round jugs, a small pottery cup, and a covered basket upon it. Behind him were stalls similar to those below, one of which contained another ladder, which led through a hole in the ceiling up onto the roof.
Elizabeth looked around in horror and disbelief. This was like nothing she had ever seen before. There were very few furnishings, and no curtains or doors. Leah walked over to the covered basket and knelt, removing some bread from inside. She inverted the top of the basket and placed it in the center of the mat, making a simple platter. She tore the bread and placed several pieces in front of them.
“Sit, please. I’ll be right back.”
They watched Leah climb down the ladder before shrugging their shoulders at each other and sitting down on the mat.
“Dad, what’s going on? We should get out of here,” Elizabeth whispered.
Michael put two fingers over his lips. “Shh, she’ll hear us.”
“I don’t care,” Elizabeth said, her voice growing louder.
“Well, I do. She has been very helpful to us, and I think we need to listen to this woman.”
“But can she help us get home?”
“I certainly hope so.”
Leah returned, placing on the mat before them a tray containing two cups along with bowls of what looked like goat cheese, olives, and green onions. “Please, eat. You are my guests and I have plenty here. Take some.”
Elizabeth tried to hide her distress. “I’m really not interested. I’m sorry.”
Michael looked up from the food and directly into Leah’s eyes. “Can you help us get back?”
“Get back where?”
“To Northport.”
Leah shook her head. “I don’t know where that is.”
“It’s on Long Island.”
Leah looked puzzled.
“We need to get back to that street where we saw that soldier.”
“That is much too dangerous right now. You can go if you like, but you would risk your daughter’s safety.”
Leah offered the food again. “Please, have something to eat.”
Michael and Elizabeth tore at the bread.
“Let me give you something to drink.” Leah poured wine into one of the cups, thinned it with water from the other jug, and handed it to Michael.
“Elizabeth, would you like some?” she asked, pouring a second cup.
“Excuse me?” Michael interjected.
“Your daughter is thirsty. Let me give her some wine, too.”
“Really?” Elizabeth looked interested.
“Of course, you are my guest.”
“Cool!”
“Not cool,” Michael countered. “My daughter is too young to drink.”
“Your daughter is old enough to get married,” Leah said, glancing at Michael with a perplexed look. “How could she be too young to drink wine?”
“What? Me? Married?” Elizabeth asked in surprise.
“My daughter is only fourteen. She has a long time before she gets married. She hasn’t even kissed a boy. Right, Liz?”
Elizabeth made a face. “Liz won’t comment.”
“Elizabeth?” said Leah as she offered a cup of wine.
Elizabeth looked over at her dad, who quickly shook his head. “No, thanks,” she said, before muttering in his direction, “Fun killer.”
Michael strummed his finger over the bridge of his thumb, mimicking the action of a bow over the strings of a violin. “She can have water.”
Elizabeth smirked and rolled her eyes.
Michael took a sip from his cup. The wine was sweet but he was so thirsty he downed it quickly.
“You are still thirsty?” Leah asked.
Michael nodded. “I’ll just take water this time, please.”
She poured him a cup, and again he drank it quickly. Leah smiled.
Michael noticed his daughter giving him a look. “Elizabeth, are you okay?”
“Can we go now, Dad?”
“You mustn’t,” Leah insisted. “It’s unsafe out there. The festivities will start this week and the soldiers are everywhere. Please consider staying until the morning.”
Michael looked outside. It was awfully dark. What if we get caught? He might not be so lucky to get out the next time. He contemplated which was more dangerous: staying here in the house of a strange woman or trying to get back tonight.
Elizabeth began rubbing her eyes as a yawn escaped her lips. His decision was made. I’m right with you, kid, I’m exhausted.
“Okay. We’ll spend the night. Thanks.”
Leah left the room and returned with what looked like a rough comforter. “Here, take this bedroll over there.” She handed it to Elizabeth and motioned to the small, open room on the right.
While Michael walked Elizabeth over to the little alcove, Leah cleaned up the remnants of the meal.
Elizabeth placed the bedroll on the wooden floor and lay down. “I’m scared,” she whispered to her father, “but I’m so tired.”
“I know,” Michael replied as he stroked the top of her head. “I’m with you, sweetie. Try to close your eyes and get some rest. We’ll leave in the morning.”
Elizabeth studied him for a moment. He looked worn. “Dad, what happened in the prison?”
He sighed deeply, wanting to spare her the details. “It was horrible. There were bodies chained everywhere. People were in pain and I couldn’t help them. They treated women like they were cattle. I’ll talk to you about it more when we get back.” He shook his head. “It was horrifying. Just terrible.”
She nodded sleepily. He could tell that the day’s events were having an effect. Michael slid down the wall and tried to find a comfortable position. He admired how easily she could sleep. He had slept like that once, too, back when Vicki was beside him.
His head rested against the textured wall as he closed his eyes, suddenly groggy. He had become a horrible sleeper since Vicki was gone, and this exhaustion surprised him. Most nights he struggled to fall asleep, his bedroom too confining to bring any peace. It was more like a shrine, a testament to a life he no longer led. His bed was always made. The living room couch became his only salvation.